A17183:816
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They sin therefore that go on to hinder Judgement, and to thrust Judges beside their Seats: For as they pull away from the true God no small part of his worship, so do they open a wide gate to wrong, robbery, and oppression of the poor. The Lord (I grant) commanded that, which our adversaries have alleged, meaning there by to settle quietness among his people: but because the malice of men is invincible, and the long suffering of silly Souls, makes wicked knaves more mischievous, therefore the Lord hath not forbidden nor condemned the moderate use of Judgements in law. Moreover we read in the Acts of the Apostles, that Paul did oftener than once, use the benefit of Judgement, not for money or goods, but for his life, which he endeavoured to ⟨p. 196⟩save and defend from them that lay in wait to kill him. Neither consented he to the unjust judgement of Festus the President, but appealed to Caesar: and yet we know that Paul did not offend therein against the doctrine of the Gospel of Christ. The same Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians, did not absolutely condemn the Corinthians for going to law about things belonging to their living, but because they sued and troubled one an other, before Heathen Judges. It is good and seemly without doubt, to suffer wrong with a patient mind: but because it pleaseth the Lord to ordain judgement to be a mean of help and succour to them that are oppressed with injury, he sinneth not at all that seeks to keep himself from wrong, not by private revengement, but by the upright sentence of Judges in law. And therefore did the Apostle command the Corinthians, to choose out to themselves among the faithful, such Judges as might take up temporal matters in controversy betwixt them that fell at variance.
They sinne therefore that goe on to hinder Iudgemente, and to thruste Iudges beside their Seates: For as they pull awaye from the true God no small parte of his woorshippe, so doe they open a wide gate to wronge, robberie, and oppression of the poore. The Lorde (I graunte) commaunded that, which oure aduersaries haue alledged, meaninge there by to settle quietnesse amonge his people: but because the malice of menne is inuincible, and the longe sufferinge of sillie Soules, makes wicked knaues more mischiefous, therefore the Lord hath not forbidden nor condemned the moderate vse of Iudgements in lawe. Moreouer wée reade in the Actes of the Apostles, that Paule did oftener than once, vse the benefite of Iudgemente, not for monie or goodes, but for his life, which hée endeuoured to